Mechanism for delivering a plurality of torpedoes simultaneously in a well.



R. S. PRINGLE. MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING A PLURALITY 0P TORPEDOBS SIMULTANEOUSLY IN A WELL. APPLICATION PPPPPP AR. 111111 9.

949,778. I Patented Feb. 22,1910.

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. WMMQ Arron/En INVE/V70R I n. s. PRINGLE. MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING A PLURALITY 0E TORPEDOES SIMULTANEOUSLY IN A WELL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1909.

949,778. Patented Feb.22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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- In delivering a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT s. PRINGLE, or nnanronnyzennns YLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO. THE E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOUBS POWDER COMPANY, ,OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

I MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING A 'PLURALITY OF TORPEDOES SIMULTANEOUSLY IN A WELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

Application filed March 17, 1909. Serial No. 483,938.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ROBERT S. PRINGLE, native citizen of the United-States, residing at Bradford, county of McKean, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanism forQDelivering a Plurality of TorpedoesSimulta- .neously in 21 Well, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part. of this specification. plurality of: torpedoes in a well, the general method now 1n use is to lower each torpedo separately into the well. The difliculties and dangers of this method are quite obvious.

The object of my invention is to provide 1 a construction of couplingwhichwill enable a plurality ofthese torpedoes to be coupled spaced apart around the ring,

' spaced together before being lowered into-the well and to enable them when coupled to be readily lowered into the well.

Speakin generally, portion 0 each torpedo with a ring provided with a plurality of depending .lugs and theupper projectin lu apart a like distance with t at 'of the lugs on the upper portion of the torpedo. By this means the bottom or lower portion of eachtorpedo may be connected with the upper portion of another torpedo. The top ring o the last torpedo is connected to an independent ring similar to the. rings connected to the lower portion of the torpedoes, but to which is pivoted a bail to be connected with the lowering rope or cable. -I also use a plate which encircles the u er portion of each torpedo, the face of w lilch is of such size as to be greater than that portion with a series of of the projecting pipe from the well so that I provide the upper,

coupled, to the ring carrying the bail, which bail is attached to the lowering cable and the plurality of torpedoes simultaneously lowered into the-well. ment, I. am enabled .to couple up at the mouth of the well, a plurality of torpedoes, and simultaneously lower them into the well. 4 In the: following description, the plate itself its purpose the mouth of thewell and holding a torpedo there'until the lowering 'rope or cable is attached to it, is only new with me as an element of my means for coupling a pluthe well and attaching the ring with bail attached thereto, to the top of the final torpedo. I.will.however in the embodiment of my invention disclosed in the drawings illustrate that'form of plate.

Inthe drawings: Figure l is a sectional View showing a number of torpedoes suspended in the mouth of the well. is an enlarged view of torpedo broken away to show couplings. Fig. 3 is a plan View of upper coupling. Fig. 4 is section-on line 44, 'Fig. 2.. Fig.- 5 is a detail plan View of supporting plate. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sect on on line 7-7, Fig. 5. Fig. 8-is a section on line 8-8, Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a plan view of bail ring.-

other explosive and forming the torpedo.

Secured to the top of this can by rivets or bolts is the ring 03 which may be a castlng and. of cast iron. The upper portion of thls rin d has the flange e, in the face of which is ormed the groove f.v Above this groove are the projecting lugs 40 which are spaced apart around'the ring d.- Secured to the lower portion of each of the torpedoes, except the initial torpedo, is a ring 41 pro ectin below said torpedo and adapted to enve op theupper portion of rm d. Th s 5 ring 41 has the-inwardly prO ectmg lugs 42 @spaoed apart corresponding to the lugs 40. i g=are=two jawaeach having the pro ectortiorr-h liavin anorifice through Whl orifices the b0 t j secured on the uh- By this arrange- Fig. 2'

gether, when the top of the last torpedo is for elevating a. torpedo to rality of torpedoes together at the mouth of Y a is the well, 6 the pipe projecting therevator then lifts the can.

. so. that lugs e projecting flange Each of these plates n has the inwardly pro-' j ecting flange 7 adapted to enter the groove f in the flange of ring d.- These plates are.

secured to their respective jaw members by means of set screws 9. The flat horizontal surface of the plates n of the jaws g, g are of such width as to rest securely in the top of pipe b. Each of these jaws g, 9, 1s also provided with a projecting arm 1'. To one of these arms is pivotally secured the strap .9 and in this strap ispivoted the cam t provided with the operating handle u. When the jaws g, are pivotally connected together, as (i escribed, they are encircled around the ring d so that the flanges p enter the groove f. The arms 1" 1' are then moved toward each other and the strap 8 brought over the other jaw g and the arms 1' 1' moved untilthe flanges p are securely fitted in the groove f when the cam is operated to lock the two jaws fixed in that position. To the main body of each of the aws is pivotally connected a bale v bywhich the jaws are connected to the elevator. The ele- The can is swung over and lowered until it'entersfthe pipe I) and the flat surface of the jaws rest u on the top of said p'pe securely holding t e torpedo. When in this position another torpedo is lifted in the same manner and lowered until the ring 41 envelops the upper end of ring d. The lugs 42 assing down between the lugs 40, and the ring 41 turned jaws ma removed from the first torpedo, and by t e jaws holding the second torpedo, both torpedoes may be lowered in thepipe until the jaw plate. of jaws holding the second torpedo rests upon-the top of the pipe.

This is continued until the desired number of torpedoes have been assembled together, when the ring 44 shown in-Fig. 9 with its ba'l is attached to the upper ring ofthe last torpedo. This ring is s1m1lar to the rings 41, having similar inwardly" spaced In 42 interlocking wit It has aso-the t ivoted bail 43 attached thereto. This he. is connected to thelowering cable or rope and the plurality of cans or torpedoeslowered into the well. If desired the rings at and 40 and d and 44 may be further secured together by the pin 45 in the orifice 46 in rings (1, 40- and 44.

Havin now fully described my invention, what I c aim and desireto protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A plurality of explosive cans, or torpedoes, one having a projecting ring selugs proj ectin 42 and 40 interlock, when the lproj ecting elugs. 40.

cured to its upper ortion, the other'a projecting ring secure to its lower portion, the first mentioned ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its outer sur-' face, and the other ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its inner surface.

2. An explosive can, or torpedo, having a projecting ring secured to its upper portion, and a projectlng ring secured to its lower portion, the first mentioned ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its outer surface, and the other ring having interspaced-lugs projecting from and around its inner surface.

3. A plurality of explosive cans, ortorpedoes, one having a projecting ring secured to its upperportion, said ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and-around its outer surface and an annular groove below said lugs, the other a projecting ring secured to its lower portion, said ring 'having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its inner surface.

4. An explosive can or torpedo, hav1ng a pro ectlng ring secured to 1ts upper portion,

sai ring having interspaced lugs pro ecting from and around its outer surface, and an annular groove below said lugs, and a pro- 1 jecting ring secured to its lower portion,

said ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its inner surface.

5. A plurality of explosive cans or torpedoes, one having a projecting ring secured to its upper portion, the other a projecting ring secured to its lower portion, the,

first mentioned ring having interspaced surface, and t e other ring having interspaced ln s projecting from and around its inner sur ace, and a plate, adapted to sup-' from and around its outerv port the first mentioned torpedo onthe mouth of'the well tube, removably secured to said torpedo.

6; An exploslve can or torpedo, having a projecting r1ng secured to its upper portion,.- and a projecting ring secured .to its lower' portion, the first mentioned ring having interspaced lu its outersur ace, and the other havm interspaced'lu projecting from an a roun .its inner sur cc, and a plate, adapted to support said tor edo on the mouth of the well tube, remova 'ly secured to said torpedo.

7. A plurality of explosive pans or torcured to its upper portion, said rm havin projecting from and around interspaeedlugs projecting froman aroun 4 its outersurface, and an annular groove low said 1' the other havm' g a pro'ectmg ring secu l to its lower portion, said ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its inner surface, and a plat adapted tosupport said torpedo on the secured mouth of the well tube, removably pedoes, one having a projecting -ring 'se-' r ring.

8. An explosive can or torpedo, having a projecting ring secured to its upper por-v tion, said ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its outer surface, and an annular groove below said lugs, and a projecting ring secured to its lower portion, said ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its inner surface. and a pl ate, adaptedto support said torpedo on the mouth of the well tube, removably secured in the groove of the upper torpedo ring.

9. In combination, an explosive can or torpedo, having a projecting ring secured to its upper portion, said ring hav ng interspaced lugs projecting from and around its outer surface, a ring having interspaced lugs-projecting from and around its inner surface, and a bail pivotally connected with said last mentioned ring.

10. In combination, an explosive" can, or, torpedo, having a projecting ring secured to its upper portion, and a projecting ringsecured to itslower portion, the first mentioned ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its outer surface, and the other ring having interspaced lugs rojecting from and around its inner sur ace, and a ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its inner surface, and a bail pivotally connected with said ring.

11.' An explosive can or torpedo, having a projecting ring secured to its upper por-- tion, said ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its outer surface, and an annular groove below said lugs, and

a ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its inner surface, and a bail pivotally connected with said last mentioned ring. r v

12., An explosive can or torpedo, having a projecting ring secured to its upper portion, said ring having interspaced lugs projecting'from and aroundits outer surface, and an annular-groove below said lugs, and a projecting ring secured to its lower portion, said ring having interspaced lugs rojecting from and around its lnner sur ace,

and a ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around itsinner surface, and a bail pivotally connected with said ring.

13. An; explosive canor torpedo, having a pro ecting rmg secured to its upper pertion,

'a projecting je'cting from and 1 I Witnesses:

tion, said rings having interspaced lugs rojecting from and around its outer sur ace, and a plate adapted to support said torpedo on the mouth of the well tube, removably secured to said torpedo, and a ring havin interspacedv lugs projecting from and aroun its inner surface, and a bail pivotally connected with said ring.

14. An explosive can or. torpedo, having a projecting ring secured to its upper porand a projecting ring secured to its lower portion, the first mentioned ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its outer surface, and the other ring having interspaced'lugs projecting from and around its inner surface, and a plate adapted to support said torpedo on the mouth of the well tube, removably secured to said torpedo, and a ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its inner surface, and a bail pivotally connected with said ring.

15. An explosive can .or torpedo, having ring secured to its upper portion, said r1ng having interspaced lugs proaround its outer surface, and an annular groove below said lugs,and a plate adapted to support said torpedo on the mouth of the well tube, removably secured to the groove of the upper torpedo ring, and a'ring having interspaced lugs projectin from and around'its inner sur face, an a bail pivotally connected with said ring.

16. An explosive can'or torpedo, having a projecting ring secured to its upper portion, said ring having interspaced lugs projecting from and around its outer surface,

and an annular groove below said lugs, and

a projecting'ring secured to its lower portlon, said ring havlng interspaced lugs rojecting' from and around its lnner sur ace,

and a plate' adapted to support said torpedo on the mouth of the well tube, remo'vably.

secured to the groove of-the upper torpedo ring, and a ring having interspaced lugs projectin from and around its inner sur face, an a bail pivotally connected with said ring. a

'In testimonyof which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Bradford, Pa, on this ninth day ofMarch, 1909.

' ROBERT S. PBINGLE.

, D. H. JAoK,

B. You. 

